Staying Alive: Robot Recharging

Boyoon
Jung and other researchers at the USC
Center for Robotic and
Embedded System (CRES) have been studying the problem of how to keep
robots alive for extended periods when they depend on batteries that
last a finite amount of time. They have released a research
paper (PDF format) that describes a method of allowing robots to
become self-sustaining by autonomously recharging as needed. Their idea,
not suprisingly, combines a docking
station for recharging with power management software that allows
the robot to intelligently decided when to interrupt other tasks for
recharging. Boyoon's website includes video clips of their robot docking
(AVI format) and busy at its normal sentry
activity (AVI format).

Late breaking news. Robotic lab broken into when sentry robot went
away for a recharging break. Burgler stole a wheel that was already
invented, and a typewriter that was already invented and a charging
station. Also, grant money was taken but it's not clear if it was
taken by the burgler or not. Now back to our regularly scheduled
program: Recharging the Days of our lives.

Maybe the sentry bot stole this stuff and concocted the rest as a
cover story. Will there be separate laws and punishment for robot
cops gone bad, and if the sentry bot is guilty, will be be charged
with a crime, or recharged?